Hopping around the country

These summery beers give a taste of other locales.

August 16, 2007|BY PETER M. GIANOTTI Newsday

While Florida has its own summery brews and craft beers, here are a dozen warm-weather, smaller-batch pleasures brewed throughout the country:

American Pale Ale, Stoudt's Brewing Co., Adamstown, Pa.: A medium-bodied brew, this is refreshing, uncomplicated and made with care and Cascade hops. Stoudt's has several other brews to recommend, including the Pils, which is German in spirit and appealingly dry. Up the ante with the supremely hoppy Double IPA. Gold Lager is an invitation to Bavaria.

Brooklyn Lager, Brooklyn Brewery, Brooklyn, N.Y.: This brewery is the heir to all those grand New Yorkers that belong to memory. And it's better. The Brooklyn Lager is dry, light, textbook, perfect at the bar and during extra innings. You also can be very satisfied with Brooklyn's full-flavored Brown Ale, wheat Weisse Beer or clutch-hitting Pennant Ale, an ode to the boys of summer.

Hopdevil Ale, Victory Brewing Co., Downingtown, Pa.: HopDevil Ale shows off Victory's amber, hoppy side. It's balanced, consistent and ready for you after a tough softball game, maybe with a hot dog slathered with extra mustard. Victory continues the summer theme with its vigorously hoppy Prima Pils. You'll also be partial to Whirlwind Wit, a version of the Belgian white.

Hoppe, Southern Tier Brewing Co., Lakewood, N.Y.: Major hops and big chops go into Hoppe, an Imperial Extra Pale Ale that uses restraint and tests limits. It's an aromatic, reviving brew, with a creamy head and plenty of personality. The upstate brewery, near Chautauqua Lake, was founded in 2004. The crew also gives you a very hoppy Unearthly Imperial Pale Ale and Hop Sun, a gilded, summertime brew.

Liberty Ale, Anchor Brewing Co., San Francisco: Brewed in honor of Paul Revere's ride, this beauty continues to send a message. Anchor Brewing is one of the country's true landmarks, reborn under Fritz Maytag in 1969. Liberty Ale ranks high. And sample the brewery's centerpiece, Anchor Steam Beer, which is ideal on tap. Later, seek the roasty, dark Anchor Porter; Old Foghorn, a lively barleywine brew; and the ever-changing, annual Christmas Ale.

120 Minute Ipa, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, Del.: The vigorously hopped Imperial India Pale Ale is the X Games brew from trusty Dogfish Head. If the 120 comes across as just too much, consider the citrusy 60 Minute IPA or the fruity, malty 90 Minute IPA. This is an outstanding brewery. Get the grill ready, and don't hold back on the spicy marinades.

Ruination Ipa, Stone Brewing Co., Escondido, Calif.: Stone's big, bitter, unyieldingly hoppy beer is an antidote to every wimpy brew you've ever had. Not for all palates and appetites, but this is quite an adventure in a bottle. You could be happy selecting a mixed pack from Stone's selections. Currently: India Pale Ale, Levitation Ale.

Samuel Adams, Boston Ale, Boston Beer Co., Boston: Jim Koch's Boston Beer Co. makes more than 20 brews. You can spend quality time with almost all of them. Boston Ale is right for Labor Day and beyond: smooth, easygoing, reliably well made. And you can find it everywhere. Some other favorites: the very Germanic Black Lager and the malty, smoky Scotch Ale. And two words about light beer: Sam Adams.

Shoals Pale Ale, Smuttynose Brewing Co., Portsmouth, N.H.: You could contentedly drink at random from the meticulous choices at Smuttynose Brewing, which takes its name from an island in the Isles of Shoals. Shoals Pale Ale: a crisp, warm-weather refresher that would be fine year-round, too. More stellar Smuttynose brews: the hoppy India Pale Ale, silky Porter, Farmhouse Ale and Scotch Ale.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Sierre Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, Calif.: Sierra Nevada, the craft brewery that has grown into a major player, started a revolution. The reason is simple: Sierra Nevada never fails. It's like good insurance. The full, balanced Pale Ale will make you a regular buyer. Competition: Summerfest lager. Next season: creamy Porter, malty Stout, Bigfoot barleywine-style ale.

Widmer Hefeweizen, Widmer Brothers Brewing Co., Portland, Ore.: A model for yeasty American wheat beer, Widmer Hefeweizen, though unfiltered and cloudy, is like sunshine in a glass. There's a hint of lemon. Very refreshing, very good, ready to party.